Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks: Odds, Scores and Predictions

Western Conference teams have had the advantage over the East since the start of the 2005-06 season. Will the West’s decade of dominance continue?

If you were hoping for a star-studded, offensively powered match up in the Western Conference Finals in the NHL Playoffs, you got it. The can’t-really-call-them-underdogs -103 Anaheim Ducks will face the slightly favored -129 Chicago Blackhawks for the chance to play in the 2015 Stanley Cup finals. Both teams rely on big names to score goals and boast rosters chock full of playoff experience. This series could come down to the play of goaltenders and the ability of the defenses to hold against offensive pressure.

2015 Stanley Cup Betting Odds

Chicago Blackhawks:
After struggling a bit in the first round against the Nashville Predators, Patrick Kane came to life against the Minnesota Wild in the second round, scoring five goals. The rest of the offense will need to offer some support as this series could end up being a high scoring one. Defensively, the Blackhawks will face their toughest challenge against the Ducks who have scored 35 goals in these playoffs, the most in the NHL. The real test could be in net, as Corey Crawford bounced back nicely against the Wild after a shaky performance against the Preds. Chicago will need all of their skill and muscle to be on display and they could be headed to the finals for the third time since 2010.

Bet on the Blackhawks vs Ducks series

Anaheim Ducks:
The Ducks have struggled in the post season the last couple of years, meaning a trip to the Conference Finals is merely living up to expectations. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have 51 combined points in the playoffs, with even more firepower trickling down the roster. Even their defense is able to score handily, netting 29 points in these playoffs. They’ll also be tested against Chicago’s extremely opportunistic offense and tasked with giving the offense support. Like Chicago, Anaheim’s Frederik Andersen could be the x-factor. While he’s played well in the first two rounds, he has yet to be fully tested in these playoffs. The Ducks will need to continue it’s high rate of scoring and use their speed and size to take puck possession away from Chicago.

Prediction:
This series seems almost too close to call. Two of the best and deepest teams in the league with similar strengths and weaknesses makes for what should be an exciting match up. Patrick Kane is playing some of his best hockey and the Blackhawks need Corey Crawford to rise to that level as well. Chicago can win if they can find a way to play their tempo and take scoring chances away from Anaheim and keep the puck out of their zone as much as possible. The Ducks will need to maintain their high level of offensive efficiency and use their big defensemen to throw off the smaller Chicago skill players. If Anaheim can use its size to an advantage and Andersen is up for the challenge, they could find themselves in the Finals for the first time since 2007.

Pick: Anaheim in 7.